Killing Keiko Read Free

the species, the individual animal’s traits
     and learning history from birth thus comprise the medium. All past experiences shape
     the likelihood of how future behavior will occur. It is no wonder that the science
     of behavior along with Keiko’s past in the company of man would play the key roles
     in his return to the wild.
    Killer whales are not dolphins. I’ve heard too many times, “Killer whales are just
     dolphins; they are the largest member of the dolphin family
(delphinidae)
.” Rubbish! These are the words of a taxonomist. They may be scientifically categorized
     in the same family as dolphins; however, behaviorally killer whales are no more like
     dolphins than rottweilers are like retrievers. Anyone telling you different is likely
     to get you maimed or killed.
    There is no limit to the number of self-proclaimed experts out there or those touting
     “Dr. This or That” and “Suzie Q, Ph.D.” in killer whale biology, ecology, and a few
     other “ologies.” I am not overly impressed. One can study something from a distance
     and write all the papers he or she likes, but the more distal and passive methods
     of study contribute little in the way of truly understanding an animal like a killer
     whale. Put yourself front and center in their watery world, neck deep in gloriousvulnerability … only then do you begin to understand how they think and what they
     are made of; all preexisting assumptions are quickly cast asunder. There, face to
     face with a killer whale, adrenaline fuels a crisp mind free from distraction and
     with laser-like focus. In those moments, close attention is paid to what is real.
    After working with many different animals in a zoological setting, I can think of
     no other animal that compares with a killer whale. Thinking back about working with
     polar bears, walrus, sea lions, various species of dolphins, false killer whales,
     canids and birds, there always seems to be something profound missing in those interactions.
     No doubt these latter relationships are special and wonderful, but that one extra
     indescribable ingredient with killer whales makes the cake rise just a little higher,
     taste just a little richer.
    Let me be clear, never is the illusion of control more apparent than when working
with
a killer whale. It means working together; there is no dominion over the animal.
     It means depending on each other and depending on a strong and well-established relationship,
     a working relationship that earns the animal’s attention and trust over time. It is
     a partnership, a cooperative effort, not a trainer leading a whale and certainly not
     that of a boss dictating to an employee. The partnership is 50/50 and each fulfills
     a distinctive role in that relationship. The trainer must do his or her part to protect
     a hard-earned trust and bond utilizing every ounce of intellect, skill and ability
     to read that animal and provide a clear, consistent atmosphere of learning.
    Killer whales are constantly communicating to their partners in a training environment.
     It is up to the trainer to learn the language of killer whales and the idiosyncrasies
     of the particular animal. The basis for that communication is the science of behavior
     and the art of applying behavioral modification. Simply put, this means that
environment, cues
, and
consequences
shape the way an animal behaves and the choices it makes. This principle is not exclusive
     to zoological settings; rather it is a hallmark of nature, existing in every setting.
     Nor is it exclusive to other animal species; it holds true for humans as well. Influence
     on behavior is likegravity, always present. Behavior is always in a state of change and always able to
     be influenced. At any given time, there is a vast array of forces at work shaping
     the way an animal (or a person) behaves.
    Understanding the principles that shape behavior is only the beginning step in the
     process of introducing change. There must also